Container for paper cups



1927. Apnl 19 D. F. cuR'nN CONTAINER FOR PAPER CUPS Filed July 3. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1927. Apnl 19 D.F. cURTlN CONTAINER FOR PAPER CUPS Filed July 5. 1922 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 yErj DE pay/d FCurZ/,

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Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED sTATEsPATENT OFFICE.

DAVID F. CUnTIN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoa, BY MEsNn AssIGNuENTs, To 'run von'rnx une. Co., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

CONTAINER FOR PAPER CUPS.A

Application led July 3,

This invention relates to dispensing con tainers for the sort of paper cups whlch are usually supplied in nested form.

It is an object of this Invention to provide a container which shall keep the c ups enclosed except at the moment of delivery.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container which will automatically close whenever it is left to itself.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container which is easily and quickly opened and in which when open, the cups are easily accessible.

It is a further object of this vinvention to provide a container which can be made of a few parts of sheet metal so that the device shall be simpe and inexpensive to manufacture. y

Other and further important objects of this Ainvention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation.

Figure 2 is a vertical section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is a top plan view.-

Figure 5 is a section upon the line '5 5 of Figure 3. Figure of Figure 2.

Fi ure 7 is a broken detached View show ing 1: e operating handle.

As shown on the drawings:

The container includes a stationary semicylindricall holder 1 closed at the upper end by a cap 2 which extends a little beyond the t semi-circle so as to afford a support for a boss 3 at the upper end of the axis ofthe cylinder. The lower end of the cylindBr is closed by a cap 4 of cirCularfor-m. oth the upper and the lower caps have flan es extending along the surface ofthe cylin er for a short distance. j

Integral with the flange of the lower cap is a hook 5 which is preferably secured to the 50 cylinder wall by soldering or any other appropriate means. Secured to the same wall just below the vflange of the cap 2 is a strap 6 containing-a hole 7. Preferably the strap 6 is ofsetto pass by the cap 2 and the offset is sucient to bring the hole`7 in the same 6 is a section-uponythe line 6--6 1922. Serial No. 572,593.

plane with the bi ht of the hook 5. The hook 5 and the ho e 7 in the strap 6 afford means by which the device is readily secured to any vertical support as for example to the wall.

j The boss 3 carries a pivot screw 8, the head of which is milled for readiness in adjusting the same. The other end ofthe axis of the -cylinder has a pivot 9 formed by striking up the central part of the cap 4.' Preferably the struck up part has two different shaped portions of which the upper one 9 is circular, and the lower one 10 rectangular as is most clearly shown in Figure 6. Rotatably mounted upon the circu`ar part 9 of this pivot is a circular base 11for the movable closure of the contain-er; This base has a central hole 30 to receive thel round part 9. The upper end of the closure is a semi-circular cap 12 which may have a projecting part 13 to engage the pivot `at the end of the screw 8'/ or which may extend beyond the semi-circle in the same way as does the semi- -part 25 is of considerable width and forms a substantial looking bottom below the window. The vertical portions 19 of the frame limit the window at each sideA thereof. -Ther `wayvto the base 11. Projecting downward from the base 11 is a lug 27 made by striking down a portion of the base'. rllhe rectangular portion 10 of the upstruck part of the base 4 serves as an anchorage for the inner end of a spring 29 which may be soldered thereto or merely secured. by being bent into the same rectangular shape as the'part l0.

Cit

i tangular part l0.

The other end of the spring S29 is bent around the lng Q7 as is shown in Figure e. A. handle 3l is integrally connected with the base l1. Ibis handle has a vertical connecting part 3Q and a radial projecting part which ii desired may be curved to be more firmly cont-acted by the operators finger.

In the assembly of the device the several parts described as ot sheet metal are irst secured together to term the stationary part and the closure separately. The spring; 29 is then secured to the cup 4 by having its inner end pressed over or soldered to the ree- 'l`he lower end of the closure is then placed approximately in the bottom ot the container and the spring 29 having {irst been Wound to the desired delgree ot' tightness by pincers or otherwise is secured to the closure bv having its outer end hooked over the lugQ?. The movable closure is then brought completely into place with the central hole 30 in the base Il, titted over the round pivot 9. The upper end of the closure will then come into place so that the hole therein will receive the pivot i4. The screw 8 is then turned until the closure is pressed against the bearing,l surface on the top of the rectangular part l with a pressure suiiicient to aii'ord the necessary degree ot friction. rIhe cups in nested form are then placed upon the conical support 26. The device is then hungr upon the wall or similar support by having the hook passed over a strap or staple on the Wall and the hole T passed over the head of a screw in the wall as shown in Figure G.

'Ihe operation is as foloivs:

'Io open the device, the operator moves the handle 3l to the right as seen in Figure 1 until it enters the notch 33 as shown in Figure 3. This rotates the closure through ap' proximately 180 so that the cups are available and the uppermost cup may be removed. The operator may continue to push against the handle 31 during the Whole of this m0- tion or he may if desired complete the movement by pushing against the edge 2O of the frame with the back of his hand. When the nasales operator releases the closure either by Withdrawing his hand in removing the cup or by withdrawing it Without having removed a cup, the spring 29 will. cause the closure to return to the position in which the'handle is engaged in the notch 34. The cups are then completely protected from dust or flies, and yet it requires but a single movement of" the hand to malre them again completely aecessible.

I am aware that numerous details ot construction may be varied through a Wide :range Without departing; from the princi ples of this invention, and I. therefore do not purpose lin'iiting the patent tgranted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a dispensing apparatus, a bottom piece, a projection integrally formed in the center of said bottom piece, a container mounted on the bottom piece and having an opening in one side thereof, a closure for the opening, an apertured base piece for said closure rotatably engaged on said projection, a frustum shaped cup support on said base piece, and means connecting said base piece to said projection for automatically returning the closure to closed position.

2. In a dispensing apparatus, a bottom member, a struck up portion in the center of said bottom member, the struck up portion including a circular part and a rectangular part, a spring mounted upon said rectangular part, and a closure operated by said spring and mounted on said circular part.

3. In an automatically closing container, a rotatably mounted closure7 a support for said closure including a circular part, a reetangular part, and a bearing surface, connesting said parts, and an adjustable pivot in line with said support whereby adjusting said adjustable pivot will regulate the pressure of said closure against the bearing surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DAVID F. CURTIN. 

